Composing strong, fluent sentences that stress the most important idea

Understanding verb tenses and how to use them

Finding active vs. passive verbs

Understanding the relationship between subjects and verbs

Using pronouns, as well as other parts of speech, properly

General Academic Skills

Providing techniques to improve spelling

Reading a work while retaining and comprehending its idea

Summarizing

Documenting research in formats across the curriculum (MLA, APA, etc)

Improving in-class essay abilities/strategies

Understanding and analyzing fiction and poetry

The Writing Center is NOT a place where…

Papers are proofread. Tutors do not act as an editing service. We want to teach YOU how to proofread and edit YOUR papers. If we do everything for you, you will always need a tutor.

Papers go through a quick grammar fix-it.

Papers are written for you (i.e. not a ghostwriting bureau!)

The following websites offer specialized assistance with grammar, usage, vocabulary, spelling, etc for individuals who have learned English as a second language.

Activities for ESL Studentswebsite can be very useful from beginning to high-level ESL students. It includes vocabulary, grammar, crossword puzzles, and more interactive exercises. It includes activities with homonyms, synonyms, and idioms as well as graphics to help students comprehend language.This site is definitely recommended.

1 Languageis a very large website focusing on ESL learning and writing. It includes an ESL directory of many sites.

Randall's ESL Listening Labprovides listening exercises intended to help students practice their pronunciation and comprehension of the English language.